Apparatus and method for transferring formed pieces

ABSTRACT

A transfer apparatus S transfers tablets ejected from a tableting machine  1  to a container  7 . The transfer apparatus S comprises a tablet carrying chute  2  as chute means, a cloth chute  3  as buffer means disposed in the tablet carrying chute  2 , a winding apparatus  4  for lifting the end portion of the cloth chute  3 , a bucket  5  for receiving the tablets from the cloth chute  3 , and a swiveling lift  6  for moving the bucket  5  to a predetermined position. Here, the bucket  5  and the swiveling lift  6  compose transport means. Since the transfer apparatus S is configured such that the formed pieces are not transported directly from the chute means to the transport means, but are once received by the buffer means and then transported from the vicinity of the buffer means to the container  7 , occurrence of cracks or chippings of the formed pieces can be prevented and high quality of them can also be maintained through relaxing the impact which occurs during transporting the formed pieces from the chute means to the transport means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method fortransferring formed pieces, and specifically to the apparatus and themethod for transferring formed soft pieces, for example intraoralsoluble tablets which are easily crumbled or dissolved within an oralcavity.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In manufacturing medicinal tablets, when the tablets ejected froma production facility such as a tableting machine is received in acontainer, the tablets has been transported by the methods such as anatural drop method where they naturally drop down from the tabletingmachine into the container, a bucket conveyer method where they aremoved into buckets to transport to the container, an air transportationmethod using clean air, a conveyer belt method.

[0005] Now, in medicinal tablets known is a so-called intraoral solubletablet which is easily dissolved or crumbled within an oral cavity inconsideration of easiness for a patients to swallow it. The intraoralsoluble tablets are so fragile as to occur cracks, chippings, splits, orcuts even by vertical drop of about 20 cm. Therefore, there has been aproblem that tablets obtained are liable to occur cracks or chippingsand are also not apparently preferable by means of the above-mentionedconventional method of receiving the tablets in the container.

[0006] Consequently, in the transfer process of tablets, proposed is anapparatus by which cracks or chippings are not liable to occur employinga spiral chute panel to make a substantial drop distance of the tabletsshorter. For example, refer to a cited invention, JP 10-203617 (Seeespecially Page 4, FIG. 1).

[0007] However, since the spiral chute used is complicated in shape inthe technology disclosed in the cited invention, there have beenproblems that machining takes so much time as to raise machining costand cleaning is also laborious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand a method for transferring formed pieces wherein cracks or chippingsof the formed pieces can be prevented in the manufacturing process offormed fragile pieces such as an intraoral soluble tablet by means ofsimple constitution of the apparatus and the method.

[0009] The apparatus for transferring formed pieces according to claim 1of the present invention is an apparatus for transferring formed piecesbetween positions at different heights, comprising: chute means formaking said formed pieces ejected from a forming apparatus run down;buffer means connected to said chute means; and transport means fortransporting said formed pieces from the vicinity of said buffer meansto a predetermined position; wherein said buffer means includes acylindrical portion made of cloth material having a free end portionwhich can be opened out.

[0010] As mentioned above, since the apparatus for transferring formedpieces of the present invention is configured such that the formedpieces ejected from the forming apparatus are not transported directlyfrom the chute means to the transport means, but are once received andstored in the buffer means and then transported from the vicinity of thebuffer means to the predetermined position, occurrence of cracks orchippings can be prevented through relaxing the impact duringtransferring the formed pieces.

[0011] Since the buffer means is configured such that it includes thecylindrical portion made of cloth material having the free end portionwhich can be opened out, and that its cylindrical portion receives theformed pieces therein by lifting the end portion thereof, even granuleslike a tablet can be surely received. Moreover, since the structure issimple, buffer effect can be obtained at a low cost. Further, sincecleaning or a change of the buffer means is easy, its maintenance is notlaborious but preferable.

[0012] The method for transferring formed pieces according to thepresent invention is a method for transferring formed pieces betweenpositions at different heights, comprising the steps of: making saidformed-pieces run down from a forming apparatus; storing said formedpieces made to run down in buffer means; ejecting said formed piecesstored in said buffer means; and transporting said formed pieces ejectedto the predetermined position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram showing an apparatus fortransferring formed pieces according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram showing the portion concerned ofFIG. 1; and

[0015]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus for transferring formedpieces according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed on the basis of the drawings. Further, the members, thedisposition, etc. described in the following are not intended to limitthe present invention, but can be modified or changed within the scopeof the spirit of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 1-FIG. 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram showing an apparatus for transferringformed pieces; FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram showing the portionconcerned of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus fortransferring formed pieces. By the transfer apparatus S of the presentembodiment transferred are intraoral soluble tablets as an example offormed pieces.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer apparatus S transferrs tabletsejected from a tableting machine 1 to a container 7. The transferapparatus S comprises a tablet carrying chute 2 as chute means, a clothchute 3 as buffer means disposed in the tablet carrying chute 2, awinding apparatus 4 for lifting the end portion of the cloth chute 3, abucket 5 for receiving the tablets from the cloth chute 3, and aswiveling lift 6 for moving the bucket 5 to a predetermined position. Inthis embodiment, the bucket 5 and the swiveling lift 6 compose transportmeans.

[0019] The tablet carrying chute 2 is connected to the tableting machinefor making the tableted tablets run down to transport them. The tabletcarrying chute 2 is disposed, for example, at an angle of 45° to thesitting plane of the tableting machine 1. The tablets ejected fromtableting machine 1 are transported sliding down because of their ownweight on the tablet carrying chute 2.

[0020] The cloth chute 3 as the buffer means is connected to the tabletcarrying chute 2. The cloth chute 3 is for receiving the tablets belowthe tableting machine 1 without making an impact on the tablets, whichare very fragile before hardening treatment. As shown in FIG. 2, Thecloth chute 3 comprises a cylindrical main body 3 a made of cloth,cylindrical connection portions 3 b, 3 c disposed at both end portionsof the main body 3 a, and a support portions 3 d of the cloth chute 3.Further, if the connection portions are configured to be removable fromthe main body 3 a, the change of the main body 3 a will be preferablyeasy.

[0021] The main body 3 a of the cloth chute 3 is made of cloth ofcotton, synthetic fiber, a resin sheet, or a rubber sheet. Additionally,it is preferable to use cloth with a cushion property such as pilecloth, flannelette, cloth the surface of which is raised. Moreover, inorder to obtain better buffer effect the cloth the inner surface ofwhich is lined with a foam sheet made of polypropylene, polyethylene,polyurethane, etc.

[0022] One connection portion 3 b of the connection portions of disposedon the main body 3 a of the cloth chute 3 is connected to the tabletcarrying chute 2 and is configured to be able to receive the tabletswhich drops sliding on the tablet carrying chute 2. The other connectionportion 3 c is connected to the winding apparatus 4 disposed at thevicinity of the cloth chute 3.

[0023] The winding apparatus 4 is configured to lift the end portion ofthe cylindrical cloth chute 3 in order to make the storing of thetablets possible. The winding apparatus 4 comprises a holding portion 4a, and the connection portion 3 c of the cloth chute is held at theholding portion 4 a. During receiving the tablets, the holding portion 4a is lifted upward. At this movement, the opening of the connectionportion 3 c is lifted swiveling in order to face upward.

[0024] The cloth chute 3 is held in the state where the tablets receivedinside does not come out by holding it so as to make the opening of theconnection portion 3 c face upward. Thereby, the tablets which havedropped down sliding on the tablet carrying chute 2 is received by thecloth chute 3.

[0025] When the amount of the tablets stored in the cloth chute 3reaches the prescribed one, the end portion of the cloth chute 3 islowered to the original position, and the connection portion 3 c facesdownward to eject the tablets.

[0026] Besides, by means of changing the operation of the windingapparatus 4 with an automatic one, storage and ejection of the tabletsat the cloth chute turns able to be operated automatically. When theautomatic operation is employed, it is preferable to set a timer on thewinding apparatus 4 and also set a period during which the prescribedamount of the tablets is stored in the cloth chute 3 depending on theamount formed per unit time. As an alternative, it is preferable to seta sensor on the cloth chute 3 and to change the movement of the windingapparatus 4 when the weight of the cloth chute 3 reaches the prescribedvalue.

[0027] The bucket 5 receives the tablets from the cloth chute 3 and isthen moved from the reception position of the tablets to the storageposition of the tablets by the swiveling lift 6. At the receptionposition of the tablets, the distance between the cloth chute 3 and thebucket 5 is set to such that no cracks or chippings of the tablets mayoccur.

[0028] Further, at the storage position of the tablets, the distancebetween the container 7 and the bucket 5 is adjusted to such that nocracks or chippings of the tablets may occur. In the present embodiment,a sensor is disposed on the bottom portion of the bucket 5 and thebucket 5 is configured to be able to stop at the most adjacent positionto the bottom surface of the container 7 or to the upper surface of thetablets having been stored by means of detection of the sensor. Thereby,cracks or chippings of the tablets are prevented during storage of thetablets into the container 7.

[0029] Additionally, the bucket 5 of the present embodiment isconfigured for the bottom portion thereof to be opened and closed. Thebucket 5 takes, during receiving the tablets, the shape of a box thebottom portion of which is closed. On the other hand, during removingthe tablets into the container 7, the tablets are ejected by opening thebottom portion.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the swiveling lift 6 comprises a tower 6 a,an arm portion 6 b holding the bucket 5, and a driving portion 6 c formaking the arm portion 6 b move up and down. The arm portion 6 b ismoved along the frame of the tower 6 a and is configured to be able toswivel.

[0031] The driving portion 6 c for moving the arm portion 6 b,comprising for example a rotation motor and a driving belt, isconfigured to make the arm portion 6 b move up und down by means ofoperating the driving belt by the rotation motor. Further, it is obviousthat other driving mechanisms including a hydraulic cylinder, an aircylinder, etc. may be used as the mechanism for making the arm portion 6b move up and down.

[0032] Still further, the driving portion 6 c comprises a rotation motorfor making the arm portion 6 b swivel. The arm portion 6 b is, as shownin FIG. 3, configured to be able to swivel within the range extendingfrom the adjacent position of the cloth chute 3 to the location of thecontainer 7 of the tablets.

[0033] Next, the method for transferring tablets in the transferapparatus S having the above constitution will be described.

[0034] First of all, the winding apparatus 4 is operated to lift the endportion of the cloth chute 3 making it into a storable state of thetablets. Then, the tablets are ejected from the tableting machine 1 bythe prescribed amount per unit time. The ejected tablets drop slidingdown on the tablet carrying chute 2 to be received into the cloth chute3. Once the cloth chute 3 is filled up or the prescribed amount of thetablets is stored, the winding apparatus 4 is again operated to returnthe cloth chute 3 to the original state.

[0035] When the cloth chute 3 is returned to the original state, thetablets are ejected from the cloth chute 3 and then loaded in the bucket5. Since the distance from the cloth chute 3 to the bucket 5 is set tosuch that no cracks or chippings of the tablets may occur, cracks orchippings of the tablets does not occur when the tablets are removedfrom the cloth chute 3 to the bucket 5.

[0036] Further, since the tablets are transported to the bucket 5 afterthey are once stored in the cloth chute 3 making the height differenceas small as possible, they are loaded into the bucket comparatively softdue to natural drop, and thereby it preferably results in that thetablets does not jump out of the bucket 5.

[0037] After the tablets are loaded in the bucket 5, the driving portion6 c of the swiveling lift 6 is operated for the bucket 5 to be raisedalong the tower 6 a as the arm portion 6 b is moved upward. Further, thearm portion 6 b is swiveled at the raised position swiveling the bucket5 around the swiveling axis, and the bucket 5 is moved to the positionabove the container 7.

[0038] Once the bucket 5 is moved to the position above the container 7,the bucket 5 is moved downward along the tower 6 a. A sensor is providedon the bottom portion of the bucket 5 and the bucket 5 is stopped at themost adjacent position to the bottom surface of the container 7 or tothe upper surface of the tablets having been stored by means of thesensor. And then, the bottom plate of the bucket 5 is opened and thetablets in the bucket 5 are loaded into the container 7. After loading,the bucket 5 is again moved to the vicinity of the cloth chute 3.Repeating the above steps, the tablets are loaded until the container 7is filled up with them, and then they are completed as the finalproducts via sequential steps such as a humidifying-drying step and apackaging step.

[0039] In the above embodiment shown are the intraoral soluble tabletsas one of the formed pieces, however the formed pieces can be tabletswith higher hardness, surface-coated tablets, encapsulated tablets, orconfectionary, and the like.

[0040] Further, in the above embodiment generated is the state whereformed pieces can be stored inside the cloth chute 3 by lifting the endportion thereof, however the constitution, where the cloth chute 3 isturned in the shape of a bag by clipping the end portion of itself witha clip-like member, can be employed. Otherwise, it is also preferablethat the state, where formed pieces can be stored inside the cloth chute3, is generated by means of disposing a shutter in the connectionportion 3 c.

[0041] Still further, in the above embodiment, shown is the constitutionwhere only one set of the tablet carrying chute 2, the cloth chute 3,and the bucket 5 is employed, however it is also preferable to adopt theconstitution where the tablets are sequentially transferred using aplurality of sets of the tablet carrying chute 2, the cloth chute 3, andthe bucket 5.

[0042] As mentioned above, according to the apparatus and method fortransferring formed pieces of the present invention, since they areconfigured such that the formed pieces are not transported directly fromthe chute means to the transport means, but are once received by thebuffer means and then transported from the vicinity of the buffer meansto the container, occurrence of cracks or chippings of the formed piecescan be prevented and high quality of them can also be maintained throughrelaxing the impact which occurs during transporting the formed piecesfrom the chute means to the transport means.

[0043] Moreover, since the cloth chute is used as the buffer means,buffer effect can be obtained with the simple constitution. Further,since cleaning or a change of the buffer means can be easily done, itsmaintenance comes also able to be performed with ease.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for transferring formed piecesbetween positions at different heights, comprising: chute means formaking said formed pieces ejected from a forming apparatus run down;buffer means connected to said chute means; and transport means fortransporting said formed pieces from the vicinity of said buffer meansto a predetermined position; wherein said buffer means includes acylindrical portion made of cloth material having a free end portionwhich can be opened out.
 2. A method for transferring formed piecesbetween positions at different heights, comprising the steps of: makingsaid formed pieces run down from a forming apparatus; storing saidformed pieces made to run down in buffer means; ejecting said formedpieces stored in said buffer means; and transporting said formed piecesejected to a predetermined position.